UF's Pease: ‘Future is bright'

Published: Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at 5:22 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at 5:43 p.m.

Successful coordinators at Florida tend to not stick around very long. They move on and move up to a head coaching job. It's a natural progression that many have followed, including Bob Stoops, Dan Mullen and Charlie Strong.

Brent Pease seems to be on that path now, especially after his UF offense decimated the No. 1 defense in the nation in the Gators' victory over Florida State a few weeks back. Pease is on the path, but if you listen to him, it's obvious he's not blindly streaking down it ready to grab the first opportunity that comes along.

“There is always an opportunity down the road,” he said Tuesday. “When I was young, I was ready to make a quick move on some things. Young guys are coming to me now and asking what should they do.

“I always tell them this: If you're at a good place, if you work with good people, and you enjoy going to work every day, the grass isn't always greener. It's not really about a money situation.

“I think you've still got to have goals as to what you want to accomplish and reach. But I think those will come when it's right. Don't push the issue.”

One of Pease's goals when he accepted Will Muschamp's job offer was not to become a one-and-done offensive coordinator at Florida. He has accomplished that goal. He will be here at least through the 2013 season.

“I think Florida gives you a stage to do a lot of great things,” he said. “I'm not one to leave after one year anyway. I made a commitment. Will made a commitment to me. (Athletic director) Jeremy (Foley) made a commitment to me. The university made a commitment to me.

“These kids, you start getting attached and seeing what they're doing. There's still work to be done. The future is bright. And for me, there is a lot to accomplish here. And there's still a goal I want to accomplish in winning a national championship or winning an SEC title and all that.

“And I like it here. I like the people I work with. I really like the kids.”

Pease's name is going to come up when head coaching jobs come open. It did just last month, when Kentucky fired Joker Phillips (who is now the new UF wide receivers coach and working with Pease). Pease was the offensive coordinator at UK in 2001-02 and had connections at the school. Throw in his innovative offense, and he seemed like a pretty natural fit for the Wildcats.

But Pease said he never had any serious discussions with UK.

“There was just minimal conversation,” Pease said. “It probably never materialized as much as everybody thought.

“I think they had a plan, and I wasn't plan A. Maybe I wasn't plan B. I don't really know that as much. They went after a few other guys — obviously, Mark (Stoops). That's the direction they went.”

That actually may have made it easier for Pease, because he had no plan to leave Florida after only one season.

Earlier in his career, he might have been inclined to bolt after one year, But, over time, he said he's learned that chasing jobs probably isn't the best way to go.

“You see guys that work up through the profession and you want to be there,” he said. “It's always got to be a good fit, a good situation. I saw a guy I worked with get a job at Arkansas State (last week) — Bryan Harsin.

“Good for him. Sometimes you get to the point where as a coach you're competitive and you want that situation for you too. But you've got to know your role. If that situation's right and I'm doing a good job, maybe someday my opportunity is going to come.”

In the meantime, Pease said he's very happy where he's at.

“I've worked to be in a very good spot with very good people,” he said. “In the coaching profession you change a lot and you work with different people, different staff. You learn a lot about yourself.

“It's like the show ‘Survivor.' Everybody talks about how they learn about themselves. That's what you do in coaching, you grow, you get different ideas. We're at a spot here where I really enjoy where I'm at. I enjoy the people.”

In moving up and moving on, Pease said family also is a major consideration. He said he would not have accepted Muschamp's offer and moved to Gainesville if it's something his wife and two children weren't all in with.

“I took, I wouldn't say a risk, but an opportunity when I came here last year because my daughter was a junior in high school, and even my son being a freshman,” Pease said. “That's a hard move when you're that age of a girl in high school and you're taking her away from some friends.

“But my daughter is one that's adventurous, and she was for it. Because if my family wasn't good with it, I probably wouldn't have done it.”

Pease's next move in the profession will be to become a head coach. That could happen soon. But he's comfortable at UF waiting for the right opportunity to come along.

Contact Robbie Andreu at 352-374-5022 or andreur@gvillesun.com. Also check out Andreu's blog at Gatorsports.com.

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